Urgent warning issued amid sunny weather after rise in shock deaths
The warning follows the death of 15-year-old Izaiah Smith, who died after getting into difficulty in a south-east London park lake last week. Eleven-year-old Kaliyah Coa is still missing after entering the River Thames near London City Airport in east London last Monday.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police urged Londoners to "never underestimate the risks" of swimming in the city's waterways.
The UK will see a week of 'lengthy sunshine', Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said, with temperatures 'well above average' for April.
Chief Inspector Rob Ranstead, who leads the Met's Marine Policing Unit, said that despite understanding the appeal of the city's open water spots for bathers, police have recently seen a rise in incidents where people have 'got into difficulty' in the water, with some having lost their lives.
He continued: 'So I want to make a direct appeal to the public: please enjoy London's waterways safely, but never underestimate the risks.
'Open water may appear calm and inviting, but it can be dangerously deceptive.
'Strong currents, sudden drops, hidden hazards and cold water shock can affect even the strongest swimmers.
'Once a person is in the Thames, for example, they will almost definitely struggle to keep afloat or in control.
'The river holds currents stronger than any person and moves at extreme speeds.'
Although the water may look calm, strong and fast tides can 'easily' drag someone a mile in ten minutes, he added.
Police advised people not to swim in open water unless part of a supervised and safe environment, never to enter the water under the influence of alcohol or drugs and for parents to talk to their children and young people about the risks.
Elsewhere, visitors to the East Sussex coastline have been urged to enjoy the scenery safely and reminded not to stand too close to the edge of cliffs or walk or sit at the cliff base when on the beach.
Councillor Claire Dowling, cabinet member at East Sussex County Council, said: 'The cliffs, while beautiful, are extremely unstable and huge quantities of chalk can fall at any time with absolutely no warning.'
Of the forecast this week, Ms Chalk said the highest temperatures would be focused around south and south-west England over the next two days, followed by highs of around 21 to 22C in eastern England and Scotland on Thursday.
On Friday, southern England, including London, are expected to see highs of 22C.
Of the sunny, dry weather, she said: 'The exception is on Wednesday and Thursday – we will just see a bit more cloud filtering in from the North Sea, so we will see some cloudier starts on Wednesday and Thursday, but otherwise that will lift and clear, and then plenty of fine weather still continuing.
'There's a potential for a bit of a breakdown as we end the weekend, Sunday and Monday, on Wednesday, there's quite a lot of uncertainty on that transition so best to just enjoy this week of lengthy sunshine.
'We will still see some chilly nights though – waking up this morning it's still a little bit chilly, but by day it is generally pretty warm for the time of year.'
Ms Chalk added: 'Generally for the UK, the maximum temperature of April is 12C, covering all of April, so we could reach up to 21 to 22C – so, well above average.'
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Wales Online
33 minutes ago
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Weather maps show where it will be hottest over bank holiday but a change is coming
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Hurricane Erin may hit the UK over Bank Holiday
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Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
How will Hurricane Erin impact Scotland as category 3 storm threatens UK weather?
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"This is still a week away however, so there is lots of uncertainty in the forecast, but it is possible we could see some wet and windy weather for the last week of August." In a similar vein, analysing the long-range forecast between Tuesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 28, a Met Office spokesperson admitted the details during this period "carry low confidence". "High pressure will probably be increasingly displaced to the north through the first part of this period, allowing areas of low pressure to potentially make inroads from the Atlantic," they explained. 'This brings an increasing possibility of stronger winds and rain, some of which could be heavy and thundery, especially for southern and western areas, but this perhaps becoming more widespread with time." On the upside, temperatures look to remain above average with the possibility of more hot spells. And the weather agency went on to release a statement on how the week is likely to progress in Scotland. "A cold front will move southwards, allowing high pressure to build more widely from the north," a spokesperson said. "This will lead to a gradual clearance of cloud and the arrival of sunnier skies, particularly across northern and eastern parts of the UK on Wednesday, August 20. "Despite the improved brightness, temperatures will remain modest due to the cooler airflow and lower humidity levels. Highs across most of the UK will reach the high teens to low 20s, with mid 20s expected in the south." Thursday, August 21 will begin on a cool note, especially in the northeast of Scotland, where light showers may persist but dry and bright conditions will be large and in charge. Temperatures will range from the mid-teens in the north to low 20s in southern regions. It will be a noticeably cooler night on Thursday, and could actually be quite chilly for a few places on Friday morning. Friday, August 22 will be a dry and pleasant day, with sunny spells lifting temperatures to around 23 or 24C in the sunniest locations. As we head into the weekend, northern Scotland will see the lowest temperatures on Saturday, between 17 to 19C. Elsewhere they will hover in the high teens to low twenties. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. By Sunday, maximum daytime temperatures in northern Scotland will rise to the low twenties, but elsewhere it will be a similar story to Saturday. However, weak areas of low pressure in the Atlantic may begin to encroach on western parts of the UK later in the weekend, potentially bringing showers. So, in short, while there is the likelihood of some wet weather for Scotland, there is a lot of uncertainty around Erin's role in it, due to it being a week away.
